Moments 08 25 :: Week 04

Lots of food photos this week, but we had some great meals. On Saturday, we met Leif + Mel at The Wolf. It was our first time and it was fantastic. This photo is first course was shishito peppers and ceviche. Both delicious. So were the rest of dishes. We'll be back.

After dinner, we went to The Eagles Club for a concert. 

LCD Soundsystem! It's been about 18 years or do since Brian and I saw them last. It was a sold out show on a crazy hot night. Packed and sweaty. We missed seeing them walk on, and left before the final song, but they were great. 

The next day we met Leif + Mel again, but this time at Three Lions for the first Manchester United game of the season. Unfortunately, our team lost, but our English breakfast hit the spot. 

Otherwise, the week was pretty quite. Brian was in LA for a few days so I had a quiet house. If you know me, you know how much I crave that, especially since Brian has worked from home for over 5 years now. It's always good getting him back again though. We decided summer isn't over yet, so went to Poco Loca on birria taco night. It's my first time trying them, and they were absolutely delicious. 

Moments 08 25 :: Week 03

It felt like we were celebrating Cole all week. He requested shrimp for his send off meal, which we had several days early. The kid was busy this week! He visited his old college teammates, played golf with the grandparents, picked Zoe up after her big move-in to her new apartment in Chicago. 

He was able to join us for our annual German American Days with the family too. Prost!

The Live Glockenspiel is always a hit. 

See what I mean? Just look at this crowd. 

Some of us even jumped in the lake. 

And some of us didn't. I can never resist getting in that water. It's fantastic.

The German American Days gang. Missed our large group, but we had a wonderful time. It started raining in the afternoon, so our day was cut a little short. We all were very lucky though. It stormed so bad, that so many homes flooded. Probably half the people I know in the area, to be honest. We only had a little roof leak, which I'll deal with later. It was devastating seeing so much left on the curb from people's flooded basements. 

On Cole's last night, Zoe came over for dinner and we had his traditional birthday ice cream cake. Just a little early. We got to have so many meals with those two this summer. I'm going to miss them. 

Alas, Minneapolis waits. We loaded up the last of Cole's stuff, and headed to his new place. It's really great. He's a lucky kid. 

It's close to the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

As well as within walking distance to a bunch of great restaurants.

 

The day we arrived, he had a pick-up game. He loved getting a chance to meet some of the other players. The next day, Brian and I went to a parent social, so we got to meet some people too. 

This team seems really dialed in, and I'm so excited for Cole to get the development he's been craving as both a person and a player. 

We are excited for him to be an Auggie.

Cheers to a successful move-in!

Friday morning, it was time to say good-bye. 3.5 months was not a short amount of time. He was definitely ready to go, but we sure are going to miss him. So exited for this next era though.

On the way out of town, we stopped at a diner for a good ole' breakfast. 

We also got this cute photo from Hudson today. It's Natalie's 25th birthday. I'm not sure who's idea this was, but I love it. 

Moments 08 25 :: Week 02

Last Friday, Cole collected the keys to his new apartment in Minneapolis. He and Brian went and set up some of the big stuff. The three of us will be moving him in in a few days. So exciting. Since I had some time to myself, I decided to meet up with my CrossFit friends and do the Saturday outdoor workout. 

On Sunday, our next door neighbors had their annual pig roast and car show. They collect vintage cars, and invite all of their other car enthusiast friends who drive up from Chicago and Minneapolis for this event. There are some pretty impressive vehicles. And I'm not even a car person. 

This one was one of my favorites. It was one that drove from Minnesota. So fun. 

Another snapshot of the event.

Our neighbor spends a lot of time on his cars, and built a fantastic garage a few years ago. You should see inside.

The pig roast. Always need an action shot. 

Yum yum. Luis is Puerto Rican, and they crush this meal. They invited a bunch of our neighbors over too, which was really fun. Such a great day. 

I spied this mom turkey and her three little babies on our walk last week. 

On Monday, I took Zeke out on a field trip. I always take one of these photos, and I always look like such a nerd. I just love Monday Field Trips so much. Zeke isn't looking so sure, but trust me, we had a blast. 

Cole ran to the park and met up with us. It took Zeke a moment to realize he was not just going on a little walk, and getting to spend some time with us. He didn't want to stop walking. Once he did, he was such a love bug. In fact, Cole said he might have been his favorite dog he's met so far. 

He has the largest tongue and legs that look like a pigs. He's pretty awesome. Before I took him back to the shelter, Zeke even got a pup cup from Starbucks. What a great guy. 

Brian and I had acupuncture and wanted to go to Conejitos after, but they were on vacation. We ended up a Zocalo food trucks. That place is always so much fun. A bocce league was going on and a run club had just finished. So much energy. I love it. Soy Quien Soy = "I am who I am."

The best part of the week? Getting this photo. Hudson has been on a 3 week flying stint. On Thursday, he started his day in Key West, flew to the Bahamas, Charleston for a fuel stop, then Newark. He took an Uber to the train and met up with Emma for dinner! Then he spent the night at his old roommate from college, Graham's, place. I know this is not an easy job, and being away so much is hard, but these are the moments that are pretty cool. 

Moments 08 25 :: Week 01

Last Friday, Brian drove the EAA and camped for the weekend. Cole, Zoe and I decided to check out the Riverwest 24, aka The People's Holiday. It's such a fun event that starts Friday at 7pm and ends Saturday at 7pm. The goal is to get as many laps as possible, but honestly, it's really more fun than anything. There are quirky bonus checkpoints (tattoo anyone?), bands playing in garages, and people out everywhere all night long. 

You come across things like this! So much fun. We ran into a few friends who were doing it. It's on Cole's bucket list to do some day, so I was happy we were able to make it. 

The next day I drove to Oshkosh and met up with Brian at the EAA. It was sweltering, and jam packed, but still fun. I missed having Hudson there, but we did run into the SLU guys which was fun. 

The whole event is a blast to be honest. All day long their are air shows going on. These were old military planes. 

Love the paint jobs on them. 

The acrobatics are insane. What I love most though, is the fighter jets zooming low and so fat only feet from you. It's crazy. 

I stayed for the night show. Imagine airplanes with fireworks coming off of them. Laser, drone, fire bombs. This show has it all, and again, it's so close by. It's very cool. I need to plan better though. It took just as long for me to get out of the parking lot as it did to get home. It was a long day, but worth it. 

My friend Kim loaned me this book. It was a little strange and sad, but I couldn't put it down. I can't even explain it. 

The most exciting news is that our niece Mackenzie and her new husband Patryck are expecting twins. She officially announced it, so I can too. I can't wait for this. 

But wait! There's even more most exciting news. Maia + Caleb got engaged. He proposed in Paris. I can't say it's a surprise, but we are all so happy for them. Caleb is such a great guy, and we can't wait to officially welcome him into the family. 

Moments 07 25 :: Week 04

Last week was all about driving back and forth to Chicago. Thursday was the concert. Friday was a low country shrimp boil at The Frigs. Everyone but Hudson (boo) was able to make it. It was fun getting together. We'll be doing it soon again, I'm sure. 

The Frigs are always such great hosts and the food was delicious.

The seafood boil inspiration came from these two Tulane graduates. 

Such a fun summer night. 

Cole also had three soccer games this week. The first was Saturday in Racine during the pouring rain. Then Sunday, it was back to Chicago to play on the Loyola University fields. 

Zoe goes to school there, and a lot of her friends are staying in Chicago for the summer, so she got to see the for the first time in months. These three were all in Rome last semester together. 

The soccer fields are right by Devon, so Brian and I got to walk around and explore the neighborhood for a little bit. We also picked up some late night food for the car ride home.

Wednesday was the final RKC game of the season. The game was on their home field in Racine, and they won 5-0. Cole even scored his second goal of the season. The team is made of such quality players, and the club has been really good to him. He's super lucky to get to play this high level soccer during the summer season. Now, he gets some deserved rest before the college season kicks in. 

The Kramers and Sandoval's came out to cheer Cole on for his final game too.

Quesadillas over the open fire. It's been awhile since we've made those. 

My friends were that the shrimp truck that sells wild gulf shrimp was going to be in the neighborhood, and I had to check it out. I've seen this truck before and wondered, who would buy shrimp out of a truck? That answer today, is me. And let me tell you, it's legit. The line was long, the shrimp was fresh. They drive up from Texas every 5 weeks or so. 

I even made a spontaneous shrimp lunch for myself, before freezing the rest. Complete with corn I picked up yesterday from a farmer's stand. Lucky me! Meanwhile, Brian headed up to the EAA for a couple days for AirVenture. I may join him tomorrow. We'll see.